Aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones using ruthenium(III)/Et3N catalyst

A simple, efficient method for oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes and ketones has been developed. Using RuCl₃/Et₃N as catalyst, the oxidation of benzyl alcohol with oxygen could be achieved with 332 h⁻¹ turnover frequency in the absence of solvent. The influence of versatile N‐containing additives on the catalytic efficiency has been discussed. The presence of minor water would substantially promote the catalytic efficiency, and its role in catalysis has been investigated in detail. The insensitive Hammett correlations of the substituted benzyl alcohols, the normal substrate isotope effect (k_H/k_D = 3.5 at 335 K), and the linear relationship between O₂ pressure and turnover frequency imply that the reoxidation of the Ru(III) hydride intermediate to the active species shares the rate‐determining step with the hydride transfer in the catalytic cycle. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of primary alcohols by sodium N-chloroethylcarbamate

The oxidation of primary alcohols by sodium N-chloroethylcarbamate in acid solution, results in the formation of corresponding aldehydes. The reaction is first order with respect to the oxidant and alcohol. The rate increases with an increase in acidity. The oxidation of α,α-dideuterioethanol exhibited a primary kinetic isotope, k_H/k_D = 2.11 at 298 K. The value of solvent isotope effect k(H₂O)/k(D₂O) = 2.23 at 298 K. Addition of ethyl carbamate does not affect the rate. (EtOC(OH)NHCl)⁺ has been postulated as the reactive species. Plots of (log k₂ + Ho) against (Ho + log[H⁺]) are linear with the slope, ?, having values from 1.78–1.87. This suggested a proton abstraction by water in the rate-determining step. The rates of oxidation of alcohols bearing both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups are more than that of methanol. A concerted mechanism involving transfer of a hydride ion from the C? H bond of the alcohol tothe oxidant and removal of a proton from the O? H group by a water molecule has been proposed.     

Kinetics and mechanism of quinolinium dichromate mediated oxidation of sugar alcohols in Bronsted acid media

Bronsted acid catalyzed oxidation of certain sugar alcohols (polyols) has been studied by quinolinium dichromate (QDC) using aqueous sulfuric, perchloric, and hydrochloric acids at different temperatures. At constant acidity, reaction kinetics revealed the second-order kinetics with a first order in [Alcohol] and [QDC]. Zucker-Hammett, Bunnett, and Bunnett-Olsen criteria were used to analyze acid-dependent rate accelerations. Bunnett-Olsen plots of (log k + H_ν) versus (H_ν + log [H⁺]), and (log k) versus (H_ν + log [H⁺]) afforded slope values (ϕ and ϕ^*, respectively) > 0.47, suggesting that a water molecule acts as a prton transfer agent in the slow step of the mechanism in the oxidation of alcohols by QDC in the presence of aqueous sulfuric, perchloric, and hydrochloric acids.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of aliphatic alcohols by tetrabutylammonium tribromide

Oxidation of nine primary aliphatic alcohols by tetrabutylammonium tribromide (TBATB) in aqueous acetic acid leads to the formation of the corresponding aldehydes. The reaction is first order with respect to TBATB. Michaelis-Menten type kinetics is observed with respect to alcohols. The reaction failed to induce the polymerization of acrylonitrile. Tetrabutylammonium chloride has no effect on the reaction rate. The proposed reactive oxidizing species is the tribromide ion. The oxidation of [1,1-²H₂]ethanol exhibits a substantial kinetic isotope effect. The effect of solvent composition indicates that the rate increases with increase in the polarity of the solvent. The reaction is susceptible to both polar and steric effects of substituents. A mechanism involving transfer of a hydride ion in the rate-determining step has been proposed.     

Electrochemical detection of the oxidation of alcohols byN-hydroxyethylethylenediamminetriacetatoruthenate(IV)

The oxidation of [Ru^III(hedta)(H₂O)]=(1) to its Ru^IV monomeric complex at a glassy carbon electrode is abserved to promote oxidation of alcohols bearing an a-hydrogen (i-PrOH benzyl alcohol,sec-phenethyl alcohol). Tertiary substitution blocks the oxidation (t-BuOH). The oxidation of the alcohols is detected by an enhancement in the current of the Ru^IV/III waves at potentials above 0.96V, caused by scavenging (reduction) of Ru^IV by the alcohols. Binuclear complexes which possess Ru^IV bridged by oxo to either a second Ru^IV or to Ru^III in species of composition [LRuORuL]ⁿ⁻, L=hedta³⁻, fail to oxidize the alcohols. The terminal oxo moiety attached to Ru^IV is postulated to facilitate the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols in a manner analogous to Meyer's [RuO(trpy)(bpy)]²⁺ catalyst. The dissociation of the (III,IV) binuclear complex into its monomers provides a pathway which increases catalytic activity at the expense of the inactive (III, IV) binuclear complex's concentration. TMC 2531     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of allyl,crotyl and cinnamyl alcohol by chromium(V)

Summary The kinetics of oxidation of unsaturated alcoholsviz. allyl, crotyl and cinnamyl alcohol by sodium bis[2-ethyl-2-hydroxy butanoato (2–)] oxochromate(V) Cr^v, has been investigated in 25% (v/v) aq. HOAc:HClO₄. The order in [oxidant] and [substrate] was 1.0 and 0.7 respectively. The oxidation rate increased with increase in [2-ethyl-2-hydroxybutyric acid] (EHBA) and decreased with increase in the percentage of HOAc. The rate decreases slightly with increase in [H^_]. The unsaturated alcohols exhibited higher reactivity compared to their saturated analogues. A mechanism involving the formation of a complex between Cr^v and alcohol which in turn disproportionates into products in a slow step is advanced to explain the kinetic results.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of aliphatic alcohols by quinolinium fluorochromate

The oxidation of some aliphatic alcohols by quinolinium fluorochromate (QFC) in dimethyl sulfoxide leads to the formation of corresponding carbonyl compounds. The reaction is first order with respect to QFC. The reaction exhibited Michaelis‐Menten type kinetics with respect to the alcohol. The reaction is catalyzed by hydrogen ions. The hydrogen‐ion dependence has the form: k_obs=a + b[H⁺]. The oxidation of [1,1‐²H₂]ethanol (MeCD₂OH) exhibits a substantial primary kinetic isotope effect. The reaction has been studied in nineteen different organic solvents. The solvent effect was analyzed using Taft's and Swain's multiparametric equations. The rate of disproportionation of the complex is susceptible to both polar and steric effects of the substituents. A suitable mechanism has been proposed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 469–475, 1999     

Hydrogen migrations in mass spectrometry. VI—the chemical ionization mass spectra of substituted benzoic acids and benzyl alcohols

The H₂ and CH₄ chemical ionization mass spectra of a series of series of substituted benzoic acids and substituted benzyl alcohols have been determined. For the benzoic acids the major fragmentation reactions of the protonated molecule involve elimination of H₂O or elimination of CO₂, the latter reaction involving migration of the carboxylic hydrogen to the aromatic ring. For the benzyl alcohols the major fragmentation reactions of [MH]⁺ involve loss of H₂O or CH₂O, analogous to the CO₂ elimination reaction for the benzoic acids. It is shown that the CO₂ and CH₂O elimination reactions occur only when a conjugated aromatic ring system is present, and that for the carboxylic acid systems, methyl groups and, to a lesser extent, phenyl groups are capable of migrating. The only discernible effect of substituents on the fragmentation of [MH]⁺ is an enhancement of the H₂O loss reaction in the benzoic acid system when an amino, hydroxyl, or halogen substituent is ortho to the carboxyl function. This ‘ortho’ effect, which differs in scope from that observed in electron impact mass spectra, is attributed to an intramolecular catalysis by the ortho substituent of the 1,3 hydrogen migration in the carbonyl protonated acid followed by H₂O elimination. Apparently, this route is favoured over the direct elimination of H₂O from the carbonyl protonated acid, since the latter has a high activation energy barrier because of unfavourable orbital symmetry restrictions.     

Kinetics and mechanism of Ru(III)-catalyzed oxidation of aliphatic alcohols by trichloroisocyanuric acid in HClO4 medium

The kinetics and mechanism of Ru(III)-catalyzed oxidation of some aliphatic alcohols by trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCICA) has been studied in aqueous HOAc-HClO₄ medium. The reaction is zero order in [TCICA], fractional order in [alcohol] and first order in [Ru(III)]. The reaction is insensitive towards changes in acid concentration. The rate is not affected by an increase in [Cl⁻]. The polar reaction constant (ρ*) was found to be −1.27 at 308 K. A mechanism involving complex formation between the substrate and catalyst in the fast equilibrium step followed by its decomposition in a slow step is proposed.     

Synthesis,characterization and crystal structure of a manganese(III) Schiff base complex and investigation of its catalytic activity in the oxidation of benzylic alcohols

A new Mn(III) Schiff base complex was prepared by the reaction of 6,6′-diethoxy-2,2′-[2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diylbis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenol with Mn(OAc)₂·4H₂O. The complex was characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. Also, its molecular structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The complex was used as a catalyst for the efficient oxidation of benzylic alcohols with tetrabutylammonium periodate. Various reaction parameters were optimized for the reaction of benzyl alcohol.     

Aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohols by MoVI compounds

Selective and controlled aerobic oxidation of activated benzyl alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes is achieved in refluxing CH₃CN using catalytic amounts of MoO₂Cl₂(L)₂ where L is DMSO, DMF or THF. The catalysis reactions are possible under open air in the absence of any other external co‐oxidants. However, bubbling of oxygen to the reaction mixture is useful in making the catalysis reaction sustained. Both activated and deactivated varieties of α‐substituted benzyl alcohols (secondary alcohols) give ketones in the same reaction conditions. The inexpensive catalyst is selective towards activated primary benzyl alcohols and also, being mild, stops the oxidation at the aldehyde stage, making it synthetically useful. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanism of Thermal Toluene Autoxidation

Aerobic oxidation of toluene (PhCH₃) is investigated by complementary experimental and theoretical methodologies. Whereas the reaction of the chain‐carrying benzylperoxyl radicals with the substrate produces predominantly benzyl hydroperoxide, benzyl alcohol and benzaldehyde originate mainly from subsequent propagation of the hydroperoxide product. Nevertheless, a significant fraction of benzaldehyde is also produced in primary PhCH₃ propagation, presumably via proton rather than hydrogen transfer. An equimolar amount of benzyl alcohol, together with benzoic acid, is additionally produced in the tertiary propagation of PhCHO with benzylperoxyl radicals. The “hot” oxy radicals generated in this step can also abstract aromatic hydrogen atoms from PhCH₃, and this results in production of cresols, known inhibitors of radical‐chain reactions. The very fast benzyl peroxyl‐initiated co‐oxidation of benzyl alcohol generates HO₂^. radicals, along with benzaldehyde. This reaction also causes a decrease in the overall oxidation rate, due to the fast chain‐terminating reaction of HO₂^. with the benzylperoxyl radicals, which causes a loss of chain carriers. Moreover, due to the fast equilibrium PhCH₂OOH+HO₂^.?PhCH₂OO^.+H₂O₂, and the much lower reactivity of H₂O₂ compared to PhCH₂OOH, the fast co‐oxidation of the alcohol means that HO₂^. gradually takes over the role of benzylperoxyl as principal chain carrier. This drastically changes the autoxidation mechanism and, among other things, causes a sharp decrease in the hydroperoxide yield.     

Kinetics of oxidation of benzyl alcohol by sodium N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide

The kinetics of oxidation of benzyl alcohol and substituted benzyl alcohols by sodium N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide (chloramine-T, CAT) in HClO₄ (0.1–1 mol/dm³) containing Cl^? ions, over the temperature range of 30–50°C have been studied. The reaction is of first order each with respect to alcohol and oxidant. The fractional order dependence of the rate on the concentrations of H⁺ and Cl^? suggests a complex formation between RNCl^? and HCl. In higher acidic chloride solution the rate of reaction is proportional to the concentrations of both H⁺ and Cl^7hyphen;. The observed solvent isotope effect (k/k) is 1.43 at 30°C. The reaction constant (p = ?1.66) and thermodynamic parameters are evaluated. Rate expressions and probable mechanisms for the observed kinetics have been suggested.     

Kinetics of oxidation of organic compounds by silver(II) in aqueous perchloric acid solution. Part 5

Summary The kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of a series of alcohols, namely cyclohexanol, cyclopentanol, pentan-2-ol and benzyl alcohol, by silver(II) perchlorate in perchloric acid solution. have been investigated by the stopped-flow technique. These oxidations proceed through two parallel pathways involving Ag²⁺ and AgOH⁺ species. In the case of benzyl alcohol, the hydroxo species, which has been found to be almost universally reactive toward different organic substrates, is inactive; this behaviour has been interpreted in terms of interaction of the oxidant with the aromatic moiety in the alcohol. The reactivities are discussed in terms of substrate reaction sites with reference to electronic availability and reaction products.     

Correlation analysis of structure and reactivity in the oxidation of substituted benzyl alcohols by bis(2,2′-bipyridyl) copper(II) permanganate

The oxidation of substituted benzyl alcohols by bis(2,2′-bipyridyl) copper(II) permanganate (BBCP), leading to the corresponding benzaldehydes is first-order with respect to BBCP. Michaelis-Menten type kinetics were observed with respect to the alcohols. The oxidation of a,a-dideuteriobenzyl alcohol indicated the presence of a substantial kinetic isotope effect. The rates of oxidation of meta- and para-substituted benzyl alcohols were correlated in terms of Charton's triparametric LDR equation whereas ortho- substituted benzyl alcohols were correlated with a four parametric LDRS equation. The results of correlation analyses point to an electron-deficient reaction center in the transition state. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 9–16, 1997.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of diols by pyridinium bromochromate

The kinetics of oxidation of four vicinal diols, four nonvicinal diols, and one of their monoethers by pyridinium bromochromate (PBC) have been studied in dimethyl sulfoxide. The main product of oxidation is the corresponding hydroxyaldehyde. The reaction is first-order with respect to each the diol and PBC. The reaction is acid-catalyzed and the acid dependence has the form: k_obs=a+b[H⁺]. The oxidation of [1,1,2,2-²H₄]ethanediol exhibited a primary kinetic isotope effect (k_H/k _D=6.70 at 298 K). The reaction has been studied in 19 organic solvents including dimethyl sulfoxide and the solvent effect has been analyzed using multiparametric equations. The temperature dependence of the kinetic isotope effect indicates the presence of a symmetrical transition state in the rate-determining step. A suitable mechanism has been proposed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 285–290, 1998.     

Synthesis,characterization and catalytic activity of novel Co(II) and Pd(II)‐perfluoroalkylphthalocyanine in fluorous biphasic system; benzyl alcohol oxidation

Tetrakis[heptadecafluorononyl] substituted phthalocyanine complexes were prepared by template synthesis from 4‐(heptadecafluorononyloxy)phthalonitrile with Co(CH₃COO)^·₂H₂O or PdCl₂ in 2‐N, N‐dimethylaminoethanol. The corresponding phthalonitrile was obtained from heptadecafluorononan‐1‐ol and 4‐nitrophthalonitrile with K₂CO₃ in DMF at 50 °C. The structures of the compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, UV–vis and MALDI‐TOF MS spectroscopic methods. Metallophthalocyanines are soluble in fluoroalkanes such as perfluoromethylcyclohexane (PFMCH). The complexes were tested as catalysts for benzyl alcohol oxidation with tert‐butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) in an organic–fluorous biphasic system (n‐hexane–PFMCH). The oxidation of benzyl alcohol was also tested with different oxidants, such as hydrogen peroxide, m‐chloroperoxybenzoic acid, molecular oxygen and oxone in n‐hexane–PFMCH. TBHP was found to be the best oxidant for benzyl alcohol oxidation since higher conversion and selectivity were observed when this oxidant was used. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SmI2/H2O/amine promoted reductive cleavage of benzyl-heteroatom bonds: optimization and mechanism

The SmI₂/H₂O/pyrrolidine mediated cleavage of benzylic alcohols and benzyl groups was studied and found to be a viable alternative to the Birch reduction yielding the corresponding deoxygenated product in excellent yield. The reaction has been investigated by kinetic methods, and a mechanism involving a pre-complexation of the alcohol to SmI₂ followed by an amine mediated electron transfer and subsequent bond cleavage and transfer of a second electron and proton to yield the toluene product has been proposed. The reaction is strongly inhibited at higher concentrations of water, indicating that it proceeds via an inner-sphere electron transfer from samarium(II) to the benzyl group, and excess of water prevents coordination of benzyl alcohol to samarium.     

A Biomimetic Pathway for Vanadium‐Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols: Evidence for a Base‐Assisted Dehydrogenation Mechanism

The first step in the catalytic oxidation of alcohols by molecular O₂, mediated by homogeneous vanadium(V) complexes [LV^V(O)(OR)], is ligand exchange. The unusual mechanism of the subsequent intramolecular oxidation of benzyl alcoholate ligands in the 8‐hydroxyquinolinato (HQ) complexes [(HQ)₂V^V(O)(OCH₂C₆H₄‐p‐X)] involves intermolecular deprotonation. In the presence of triethylamine, complex 3 (X=H) reacts within an hour at room temperature to generate, quantitatively, [(HQ)₂V^IV(O)], benzaldehyde (0.5 equivalents), and benzyl alcohol (0.5 equivalents). The base plays a key role in the reaction: in its absence, less than 12 % conversion was observed after 72 hours. The reaction is first order in both 3 and NEt₃, with activation parameters ΔH^≠=(28±4) kJ mol^?1 and ΔS^≠=(?169±4) J K^?1 mol^?1. A large kinetic isotope effect, 10.2±0.6, was observed when the benzylic hydrogen atoms were replaced by deuterium atoms. The effect of the para substituent of the benzyl alcoholate ligand on the reaction rate was investigated using a Hammett plot, which was constructed using σ_p. From the slope of the Hammett plot, ρ=+(1.34±0.18), a significant buildup of negative charge on the benzylic carbon atom in the transition state is inferred. These experimental findings, in combination with computational studies, support an unusual bimolecular pathway for the intramolecular redox reaction, in which the rate‐limiting step is deprotonation at the benzylic position. This mechanism, that is, base‐assisted dehydrogenation (BAD), represents a biomimetic pathway for transition‐metal‐mediated alcohol oxidations, differing from the previously identified hydride‐transfer and radical pathways. It suggests a new way to enhance the activity and selectivity of vanadium catalysts in a wide range of redox reactions, through control of the outer coordination sphere.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of anisole and substituted anisoles by acid bromate in acetic acid-water mixture

Oxidation of anisoles by acid bromate has been studied in acetic acid-water system in the presence of sulphuric acid. The reaction is first order each in [anisole] and [Br(V)]. The rate of reaction increased with increase in [H⁺] and percentage of acetic acid. The products of oxidation have been identified as ortho and para hydroxyanisoles. From the effect of [H⁺] and [acetic acid] on rate, H ₂ ⁺ BrO₃ has been established as the reactive species. Anisoles having electron-donating substituents in the benzene ring accelerate the rates and vice versa with a Hammett ρ value of −0.6. A mechanism involving the attack of H ₂ ⁺ BrO₃ on ortho/para position of the anisole in the rate-determining step has been proposed.